CChapter 3: Comparative analysis of nationality laws to naturalisation and refusing applications. Finally, the Qatari nationality law establishes a naturalisation quota: a maximum of 50 people per calendar year will have their applications approved.139 3.2.2. Facilitation for specific groups As shown above, the regular requirements for naturalisation are rather onerous in many MENA countries and should these be the only terms under which someone can seek to acquire nationality (other than at birth), some may find that they will never be eligible. However, it is common for nationality laws to offer a simplified or facilitated route to nationality for specific individuals, whereby certain conditions are waived or lowered. This is also the practice in most MENA states. There are two circumstances in which the majority of MENA nationality laws will make it easier for a person to obtain nationality than under the regular naturalisation procedure: in the event that the applicant is married to someone who already holds nationality or where the applicant has rendered exceptional services to the state.140 It should be noted that in almost all cases, the facilitation for a spouse of a national is only applicable to the non-national wife of a male national – the non-national husband of a 139 - Article 17, Qatari Nationality Law No. 2, 1961. 140 - See table 8. 103